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Time for political will, capacity to implement recommendations – Minister

Published

6 years ago

November 29, 2019

The Minister of Youth and Sports Sunday Development Mr Sunday Dare has said that Nigeria is not bereft of ideas for sports development to take place in the country, but the political will and capacity for implementation. He made this assertion at the Imo State Sports Summit organised by the Governor Emeka Ihedioha in Owerri the Imo State capital.

In his keynote address, the Minister commended the Imo state Governor for his commitment to grassroot sports development. “The Sports summit today is yet another major act in the series of ongoing and oncoming acts this Governor has committed his administration to in the aspect of grassroot sports development.

Your Excellency. I thank you. That is why I am delighted to address you all today at the 2019 Imo State Sports Summit.

When I received the invitation to present the Keynote Address at this Summit, I was thrilled by the topics that would be discussed by the various speakers and in particular by the sub theme of the Summit, which is “to catalyze sporting excellence by driving talent mining at the grassroots level” What is sports without talents? I guess barely nothing. Only talents triumph. Not brawn. Not luck and in most cases not luck. Luck takes flight when it meets with talent.

The recognitiont that Nigeria needs to start mining for talents from the grassroots in a methodical way by the Imo State government needs our applause! It needs our support. It needs our collaboration and partnership”, he said.

“Perhaps, if the bid by Imo State to host the next National Sports Festival, Your Excellency, you should consider changing the state mantra to IMO- Home of Sports from what it is now. Already, you are charting the critical part to achieving sporting excellence. Taking the right steps and making decisions. Dancing the dance and changing the perception”, he added.

The Minister used to occasion to intimate the gathering on some of the plans by the Ministry to achieve the nation’s goals in the area of sports, he said

“The Ministry has conceived of the Talent Hunt Program, THP, which will be launched in February. The sole objective is to empower a crack team of sports coaches and technical experts to move around the country and hunt for talents in about 12 sports. Through the program the talents found will undergo a special training and mentoring program of one month before they are inserted into the federations.

The Ministry will closely monitor their growth and development. The Ministry in September organized the National Youth Games for ages 6-15 in Ilorin. Over 320 young talents were discovered.

The Ministry would continue to organize the annual National Youth Games so as to create a pool of talents that are ready to challenge the elite athletes at international competitions.

The National Sports Festival is also a grade A sports festival organized by the Ministry where talents are discovered”.

He also disclosed that the Principal Cup competitions which produced household names like, Henry Nwosu, Adokiye Amiesimaka, Franklin Howard, Stephen Keshi and a host of others will be resuscitated but would not be restricted to football.

“In the pilot scheme, we are currently looking at the about 4 to 5 sports (Athletics, Table Tennis, Badminton, Football and perhaps Wrestling). To achieve this, we shall be partnering with the Federal Ministry of Education and other relevant stakeholders.

The Ministry will also commence for the first time what we call the Headmasters Cup for Primary schools in order to boost the catchments. About 10,000 primary schools across the country will compete for trophies in 3-5 different sports. We will be depending largely on the active collaboration of States and local governments”, he added.

Calling for more private sector investment in sports, the Minister said, “our sports development goals cannot be sustained with government funding alone. While it is very much appreciated that the government has key role to play, especially in the areas of effective policy to drive the sector, every other stakeholders, including the Organized Private Sector must play its part in these efforts.

Nigeria will soon get a robust and dynamic National Sports Policy in line with modern and international beet practices. We can no longer treat sports as mere recreation when across the world sports is treated as business. It is now a 1.3 trillion dollars globally.”

“The new business model for sports that we seek will bring private funds into sports development.

A robust public private partnership that will be developed along mutually beneficial lines. Government can no longer fund sports solely. A new partnership is needed, and we are on that path already”, Mr. Dare disclosed.

While expressing optimism that the reports and recommendations of the summit will be implemented, the Minister said, “I also believe that there a new and evolving creative ways of driving sports development and especially in the area of digital economy.

The managers of sports need to position themselves to take advantage of this opportunity. I urge the participants to look at innovative ways of developing our sports taking cognizance of our peculiar environment vis-à-vis the need to compete at the global stage”.

“I thank His Excellency for organizing this Summit and I have no doubt in my mind that the recommendations and findings of the Summit would be implemented. As a major stakeholder in the Sports Industry, I also look forward to receiving a copy of the recommendations”,

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Nigeria’s Historic Bid for the 2030 Commonwealth Games: A Call for National and Global Support

Published

1 week ago

September 30, 2025

The Gleamer

Joel Ajayi

Nigeria is poised to make history as it seeks to host the Centenary Commonwealth Games in 2030, a monumental opportunity that promises to transform the nation’s economy, infrastructure, and global standing.

More than a sporting spectacle, the Games would serve as a catalyst for development across multiple sectors, leaving behind a legacy of national pride and sustainable growth.

The benefits of hosting the Games extend far beyond the sports arena. Nigeria stands to gain both empirical and non-empirical advantages, with direct, indirect, and induced impacts that will touch every corner of society. Infrastructural development will take center stage, with new facilities such as indoor sports halls, conference centers, and improved road networks reshaping urban landscapes while strengthening the nation’s capacity to host future international events.

Economic growth is another significant dividend. Over 10,000 jobs are expected to be created, spanning construction, facility management, event planning, and tourism services.

The hospitality industry will undergo major improvements as hotels and resorts are upgraded to meet international standards, while local restaurants, lounges, and tourist attractions will see a surge in patronage from international visitors. Small and medium enterprises, particularly in the transport, finance, and food service sectors, will become some of the greatest beneficiaries, as the Games generate new demand and expand opportunities for local businesses.
The Commonwealth Games will also accelerate the growth of Nigeria’s sports industry.

Investments in training facilities, coaching, and talent development will inspire a new generation of athletes, ensuring long-term benefits that extend beyond 2030, a major focus of the President Bola Tinubu administration.
At the same time, the process of preparing for the Games will create opportunities for Nigerians to learn new crafts, acquire technical skills, and engage in global-standard event management, thereby strengthening human capacity and innovation across industries.

Mallam Shehu Dikko, Chairman of the Nigeria Sports Commission, and Hon. Bukola Olopade, the Director General, have been widely recognized for their tireless and visionary leadership in repositioning Nigeria’s sporting sector.

Their commitment to facilitating infrastructural development and strengthening grassroots sports development has laid the foundation for Nigeria’s bold bid to host the 2030 Commonwealth Games. Under their leadership, the NSC is fostering strategic partnerships and driving innovation in sports administration, they have demonstrated the nation’s readiness to stage an event of such global magnitude.

Beyond the tangible gains, the hosting of the 2030 Commonwealth Games carries profound symbolic value. It would be a moment of unity and pride, a chance for Nigeria to showcase its cultural richness, resilience, and excellence to the world.
As a centenary edition, the Games would stand as a historic milestone not just for the Commonwealth but for Nigeria itself, cementing its place on the global stage as a capable, ambitious, and forward-looking nation.

The gains from hosting the Commonwealth Games can never be undermined or overemphasized. This is Nigeria’s time to step forward and show the world our resilience, and excellence. We call on every Nigerian, across sectors and communities, to support this noble aspiration.

Nigeria’s pursuit of the 2030 Commonwealth Games is a vision for transformation, a blueprint for national development, and a legacy project that will inspire generations to come.

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